Former University of Texas quarterback and current UT co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Major Applewhite (that's his first name, not his rank) was disciplined in 2009 by the University of Texas for an infraction now being described as, if we're accurately connecting the very clear dots—"inappropriate," "consensual," "a one-time occurrence related to the 2009 Fiesta Bowl"—a one-night stand with a student:

Advertisement

UT's board of regents will discuss the matter in a specially called Sunday meeting that will include consultation with attorneys.

In separate statements released Friday night, Dodds and Applewhite called the incident a one-time occurrence. Dodds said it happened during activities related to the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, when Applewhite was UT's assistant head coach and running backs coach.

Dodds said he learned of the incident later that month, and that Applewhite admitted his "inappropriate conduct." Applewhite "fully accepted his discipline, including counseling," Dodds said.

"Several years ago, I made a regretful decision resulting in behavior that was totally inappropriate," Applewhite said in his statement. "It was a one-time occurrence and was a personal matter. Shortly after it occurred, I discussed the situation with [Texas athletic director] DeLoss Dodds. I was upfront and took full responsibility for my actions. This is and was resolved four years ago with the university.

So why is this breaking now, four years late, and why is it news if Texas already sanctioned Applewhite for a brief fling with a likely long-graduated student? It's news because the Texas board of regents will meet Sunday to discuss further action; the Texas board of regents likely saw reason to meet because of Bev Kearney, the Texas track coach forced to resign in January because of a relationship that took place in 2002. Back then, Kearney's representation alleged that she was the victim of discrimination—what kind was not specified, though Kearney is black and a lesbian. Applewhite is male, straight, white as they come, and, but for counseling and an 11-month salary freeze, largely escaped repercussions.

Bev Kearney has been the women's track and field head coach at the University of Texas since…
Read more Read more

For better or worse, however, Applewhite's case doesn't offer a perfect control in relation to Kearney's: Kearney's alleged relationship with a student was longer—described in her own statement as "intimate"—and her program has a far smaller impact on the Longhorn's bottom line. It may be that the extent of Texas' punitive actions in each case were motivated by race, gender or sexual orientation bias, but Texas could dismiss them as the far folksier product of football bias. Either way, the university may decide on Sunday to suspend or dismiss Applewhite to save face, and that leaves Longhorns fans with the unfortunate prospect of more responsibility for Mack Brown.